For over ten years, Dr. Chamcheu has devoted his research efforts to identifying and understanding the genetic and molecular basis of human skin diseases and to develop novel mechanism-based small molecular weight natural dietary and synthetic scaffold agents for the prevention and treatments of hereditary, stress-induced, and chronic inflammatory skin diseases and skin cancers. As a graduate and postdoctoral trainee, he identified disease molecular targets as markers for genodermatoses [Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), Epidermolytic Icthyoses (EI)] and skin inflammation (psoriasis) and established 3D reconstituted human skin equivalent (RHSE) models that more closely mimic human skin. He employed these to investigate the biology and disease etiology and demonstrated for the first time the therapeutic effects of small molecule chemical chaperones and dietary compounds to treat EBS, EI, melanoma, and psoriasis.
As a tenure-track assistant professor at the ULM College of Pharmacy, he has been establishing an independent research program currently devoting a large portion of focused efforts to delineating the molecular diagnostic and disease mechanisms, and to establishing novel predictive biomarkers as targets of cutaneous hyperplasia and inflammation-related skin pathologies, particularly in psoriasis. His research program is also focused on developing natural and synthetic small molecules as target-specific responses for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of skin inflammation and cancers. His long-term goal is to identify biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for halting and resolving inflammation and skin carcinogenesis. We are currently investigating the role of the central mTOR/Rac1 hub in psoriasis, and the role of intervention with natural products such as fisetin and their synthetic derivatives in epidermal differentiation, proliferation, and inflammation, as candidates or lead drugs for treating psoriasis and possibly other inflammatory conditions.
If successful our strategies could define the role of specific signaling pathway component(s), and preclinically develop natural and synthetic compounds individually or in combination or as adjuvants to FDA-approved drugs for long-term benefits of patients with psoriasis, and other hyperproliferative and chronic autoimmune disorders.
We have a solid publication record with over 36 PubMed indexed peer-reviewed research articles and reviews with over half of which Dr. Chamcheu appears as the first or corresponding author, 2 book chapters, 1 edited book, and over 38 published conference proceedings.
